Evelyn Louise Bock, age 98, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, four days after her 98th birthday.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water St, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Doug Bryce presiding. The burial took place in the Freeport Cemetery.
Visitation was from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Evelyn Bock was born in Fergus Falls, Minn., on January 7, 1926, the daughter of Conrad and Olga Olson. In 1938, Conrad, who was a postal worker, accepted a transfer to Chicago. She attended the Moody Bible Institute and Northern Baptist Seminary and became a “church missionary” for Fairfield Baptist Church in Chicago and Immanuel Baptist Church in Waukegan. At Immanuel Baptist Church, she married Wilton Bock on September 19, 1953.
The Bocks later lived in Chicago and Barrington before moving to rural Highlandville, Iowa, in 1979. At various times they also lived in Decorah and rural Waukon, then at the Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah. Wilton died February 17, 2021.
While studying at Moody, Evelyn sang in a radio ensemble on station WMBI (then an AM station) under the direction of Donald Hustad. She was a piano teacher in her home for many years. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed sewing doll clothes.
Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Wilton E. Bock, one sister, Beverly Olson, and two brothers, David Olson and Clayton Olson.
She is survived by five children: Phylis Brashears (Clay), Patricia Kruse (Joel), Paula Bock, Andrew Bock and Allan Bock; and six grandchildren: Anna Brashears, Linnea Brashears, Rosemary Brashears, Ethan Brashears, Nathan Kruse and Melia Kruse.
Memorials can be made out to the family.